Device for guiding a rope

ABSTRACT

The guiding device ( 2 ) according to the invention comprises an essentially U-shaped guiding groove for guiding a first rope ( 6 ), two guiding lumens ( 7 ) for guiding a closed loop of a second rope ( 8 ) for securing the guiding device on a fixed attachment point ( 9 ) or on a mobile part to be handled, the two guiding lumens ( 7 ) extending on both sides of the plane defined by the guiding groove ( 5 ), and a fixation tab ( 11 ) of the closed loop of the second rope ( 8 ) on the guiding device. The guiding device ( 2 ) also comprises first and second passage openings ( 15 ) each respectively emerging in one of the guiding lumens ( 7 ), each of the first and second passage openings ( 15 ) being arranged to allow the insertion of the second rope ( 8 ) into the corresponding guiding lumen.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a device for guiding a rope.

BRIEF DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

It is known, in particular on sailboats, to use pulleys to deviate a rope from its initial trajectory, or hoists, for example to lift loads or bring in sails using a rope. These different elements make up rope guiding devices.

The manufacturing operations for traditional hoists and pulleys are complex, since they use several cascading technologies. For example, for aluminum pulleys, the manufacturer in particular includes steps for cutting out, machining or molding, and surface treatment.

Furthermore, these hoists and pulleys require the workshop assembly of a large number of pieces, which greatly increases their manufacturing costs.

Furthermore, the presence of moving parts in these different elements has a direct impact on their reliability.

The fastening of the pulleys and hoists of the prior art on the parts to be maneuvered such as sails, spars, rigging, or any other moving parts, or on a fixed attachment point, requires tools or splices, which makes them more complicated to attach. Furthermore, the fixation of the pulleys and hoists of the prior art does not always allow the latter to be oriented precisely in the desired direction, and also causes irreversible degradation on the elements to which they are fastened.

The pulleys and hoists of the prior art, due to their structure, are also bulky and heavy.

Document WO 2008/065277 discloses a rope guiding device making it possible to at least partially offset the drawbacks of the pulleys and hoists of the prior art.

The guiding device described in document WO 2008/065277 includes:

-   -   an essentially U-shaped guiding groove intended for guiding a         first rope,     -   two guiding lumens for guiding the closed loop of a second rope         for securing the guiding device on a fixed attachment point or         on a mobile part to be handled, the two guiding lumens extending         on both sides of the plane defined by the guiding groove,     -   a fixation tab for securing the closed loop of the second rope         on the guiding device.

Such a guiding device makes it possible to guide a circulating rope, i.e. capable of moving opposite the device, while being provided with no moving parts, which gives it great reliability and great simplicity.

Furthermore, such a guiding device allows a release of the first rope at any point thereof, and not only by one of its ends.

Furthermore, the fixing of such a device on a fixed point or on a mobile part to be handled using a loop of rope does not require tools, and allows easy orientation of the device in all directions.

However, the fixation of such a guiding device on a fixed attachment point or on a mobile part to be handled successively requires passing the loop of the second rope around the fixation tab, passing the free end of the loop of the second rope from the outside toward the inside in one of the guiding lumens, passing the free end of the loop of the second rope around or in an opening delimited by the fixed attachment point or the mobile part to be handled, the passage from the free end of the loop of the second rope from the inside toward the outside in another guide lumen, and lastly the passage of the free end of the loop of the second rope again around the fixation tab. This thus results in a long and awkward assembly of the guiding device.

The fixation of such a guiding device also does not always make it possible to guarantee a satisfactory orientation of the latter in relation to the direction of circulation of the first rope.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention aims to resolve these drawbacks.

The technical problem at the base of the invention therefore comprises providing a device for guiding a rope that has a simple structure, low production costs, is reliable, light, and not bulky, while allowing easy and quick mounting on a fixed attachment point or a mobile part to be handled.

To that end, the present invention relates to a device for guiding a rope, comprising:

-   -   an essentially U-shaped guiding groove intended for guiding a         first rope,     -   two guiding lumens for guiding the closed loop of a second rope         for securing the device on a fixed attachment point or on a         mobile part to be handled, the two guiding lumens extending on         both sides of the plane defined by the guiding groove, and     -   a fixation tab of the closed loop of the second rope on the         guiding device,

characterized in that it also comprises first and second passage openings each respectively emerging in one of the guiding lumens, each of the first and second passage openings being arranged to allow the insertion of the second rope into the corresponding guiding lumen.

The first and second passage openings emerging in the guiding lumens allow easy and quick insertion of the second rope into the guiding lumens, without requiring orientation of the closed loop of the second rope successively in a large number of different directions. In fact, the fixation of the closed loop of the second rope can be done easily, for example by passing a portion of the closed loop around a fixation tab, while inserting the free end of the loop in or around the fixed attachment point for the mobile part to be handled, passing the free end of the loop around the fixation tab, and lastly introducing each strand of the closed loop, situated across from a guiding lumen, in said guiding lumen via the corresponding passage opening.

The presence of the first and second passage openings emerging in the guiding lumens thus makes it possible to facilitate the fixation of the loop of the second rope on the guiding device, and therefore to simplify the mounting thereof on a fixed attachment point or a mobile piece to be handled. Of course, the first and second passage openings also make it possible to facilitate the disassembly of the guiding device.

Furthermore, as will be explained below, the presence of the passage openings makes it possible to attach the device following a first orientation in which the guiding groove extends along a first plane or in a second orientation in which the guiding groove extends along a second plane, perpendicular to the first plane. These arrangements ensure orientation flexibility of the guiding device relative to the fixed attachment point for the mobile part to be handled. This results in the possibility of obtaining a satisfactory orientation of the guiding device in relation to the direction of circulation of the first rope, irrespective of the orientation of the fixed attachment point or the mobile part to be handled.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the fixation tab extends substantially parallel to the plane defined by the guiding groove. Advantageously, the fixation tab is situated opposite two guiding lumens in relation to the guiding groove.

According to one embodiment of the invention, each of the first and second passage openings extends substantially parallel to the fixation tab.

Advantageously, the guiding lumens are offset in relation to the center of the guiding groove. These arrangements make it possible to prevent the rotation of the guiding device when the load applied by the first rope on the latter part is high.

Advantageously, the guiding device includes first retaining means arranged to retain the second rope in the guiding lumens. Such retaining means make it possible to prevent accidental escape of the second rope outside the guiding lumens, in particular when no more tension is applied on the second rope or during the movements of the guiding device in relation to the attachment point or the piece to be handled.

The first retaining means for example comprise two retaining bosses each respectively formed opposite one of the first and second passage openings, each retaining boss being arranged to retain strands of the second rope in the corresponding guiding lumen.

Each retaining boss extends for example substantially parallel to the plane defined by the guiding groove, and preferably substantially parallel to the attachment tab.

Preferably, the guiding device includes second retaining means arranged to retain the first rope in the guiding groove. Such retaining means make it possible to prevent an accidental escape of the first rope outside the guiding device, in particular during movements of the first rope and the guiding device.

The second retaining means advantageously delimit a passage emerging in the guiding groove and having a width smaller than the width of the guiding groove.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the guiding device includes a central portion and two side portions arranged on either side of the central portion, the central portion and the two side portions delimiting the guiding groove.

The central portion preferably has a generally pear-shaped transverse section. The fixation tab advantageously extends between the side portions.

Preferably, the second retaining means comprise two retaining returns formed on the central portion and oriented toward one another.

Advantageously, the fixation tab comprises a rod whereof one of the ends extends from the outer surface of the central portion and whereof the other end is equipped with a head, the head of the fixation tab delimiting, with the central portion, the side portions and the rod of the fixation tab, a retaining groove designed to retain two opposite end portions of the closed loop of the second rope.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the head of the fixation tab extends substantially parallel to the plane defined by the guiding groove.

Preferably, the guiding device includes third retaining means arranged to retain the end portions of the second rope in the retaining groove. Such retaining means make it possible to prevent an accidental escape of the end portions of the second rope outside the guiding device, in particular when there is no longer any tension applied on the second rope.

The third retaining means for example comprise two retaining lugs each respectively formed on one of the side portions.

Preferably, the guiding groove extends substantially over a half circle.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the guiding device is a single piece. Given this single-piece structure of the guiding device, the manufacture thereof does not require a workshop assembly step, which facilitates the manufacture of the device and therefore decreases its production cost.

The present invention also relates to an assembly including a guiding device according to the invention, and a closed loop of a rope designed for the fixation of the guiding device on a fixed attachment point or on a mobile part to be handled.

Preferably, each of the first and second passage openings delimits a passage with a width larger than or equal to the diameter of the rope designed for the fixation of the guiding device.

Advantageously, the third retaining means and the fixation tab delimit two passages with a width smaller than the diameter of the rope designed for the attachment of the guiding device.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the assembly also includes a rope designed to circulate in the guiding groove. Advantageously, the passage delimited by the second retaining means has a width smaller than the diameter of the rope designed to circulate in the guiding groove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In any event, the invention will be well understood using the following description, and in reference to the appended diagrammatic drawing, showing, as a non-limiting example, one embodiment of this guiding device.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a guiding device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the guiding device of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are respectively top and bottom views of the guiding device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side view of one alternative embodiment of the guiding device of FIG. 1, in the fixation position on a fixed attachment point, the guiding device being fixed according to a first fixation method.

FIG. 6 is a perspective side view of the guiding device of FIG. 5, in a fixation position on a fixed attachment point, the guiding device being fixed according to a second fixation method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 to 4 show a guiding device 2 for a rope. The guiding device 2 is made in a single piece and is advantageously made from a hard, slippery material. The guiding device 2 is preferably metal.

The guiding device 2 comprises a central portion 3 generally in the shape of an inverted U and two side portions 4 arranged on either side of the central portion 3. The central portion preferably has a generally pear-shaped transverse section.

The central portion 3 and the two side portions 4 delimit a generally U-shaped guiding groove 5, designed to guide a first rope 6 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) circulating on the guiding device 2. The guiding groove 5 extends substantially over a half-circle.

The guiding device 2 also comprises two guiding lumens 7 designed to guide a closed loop of a second rope 8 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) for securing the guiding device 2 on a fixed attachment point 9 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) or on a mobile part to be handled. The two guiding lumens 7 extend on either side of the plane defined by the guiding groove 5.

As shown more particularly in FIG. 1, the guiding device 2 also comprises a fixation tab 11 designed to fix the closed loop of the second rope 8 on the guiding device. The fixation tab 11 is positioned between the side portions 4 and is situated opposite two guiding lumens 7 in relation to the guiding groove 5. The fixation tab extends substantially parallel to the plane defined by the guiding groove 5.

The fixation tab 11 comprises a rod 12 whereof one of the ends extends from the outer surface of the central portion 3 and whereof the other end is equipped with a head 13. The head 13 of the fixation tab delimits, with the central portion 3, the side portions 4 and the rod 12 of the fixation tab, an annular retaining groove 14 designed to retain two opposite end portions of the closed loop of the second rope 8. As shown more particularly in FIG. 3, the head 13 of the fixation tab extends substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the guiding groove 5.

The guiding device 2 also comprises first and second passage openings 15 each respectively emerging in one of the guiding lumens 7. The first and second passage openings 15 are each arranged to allow the insertion of the second rope 8 into the corresponding guiding lumen 7. Each of the first and second passage openings 15 preferably extends substantially parallel to the fixation tab 11. Preferably, each of the first and second passage openings 15 delimits a passage with a width larger than or equal to the diameter of the second rope 8.

The guiding device 2 also comprises first retaining means arranged to retain the second rope 8 in the guiding lumens 7. As shown in FIG. 1, the first retaining means comprise two retaining bosses 16 each respectively formed opposite one of the first and second passage openings 15. Each retaining boss 16 is arranged to retain the strands of the second rope 8 in the corresponding guiding lumen 7. Each retaining boss 16 extends substantially parallel to the fixation tab 11.

The guiding device 2 advantageously comprises second retaining means arranged to retain the first rope 6 in the guiding groove 5. The second retaining means delimit a passage emerging in the guiding groove 5 and having a width smaller than the width of the guiding groove 5. As shown more particularly in FIG. 2, the second retaining means comprise two retaining returns 17 formed on the central portion 3 and oriented toward one another.

The guiding device 2 preferably also comprises third retaining means arranged to retain the end portions of the second rope 8 in the retaining groove 14. Advantageously, the third retaining means and the fixation tab 11 delimit two passages with a width smaller than the diameter of the first rope 6.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the third retaining means for example comprise two retaining lugs 18 each respectively formed on one of the side portions 4.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an alternative embodiment of the guiding device 2 according to which the latter is provided without retaining bosses 16. According to this alternative embodiment, each of the passage openings 15 can be configured so as to delimit a passage having a width smaller than the diameter of the second rope 8 so as to ensure retaining of the latter in each guiding lumen 7.

Two methods will now be described for securing the guiding device 2 on a fixed attachment point 9. According to these two fixation methods, the fixation of the guiding device is done by two passages of the loop of the second rope 8 around the fixation tab 11.

The first fixation method comprises the following steps:

-   -   passing a portion of the closed loop of the second rope 8 around         the fixation tab 11 such that it bears against a first side of         the rod 12 of the fixation tab, this step requiring crushing of         each strand of the loop at the retaining lugs 18 to allow the         insertion of the loop into the retaining groove 14,     -   inserting each strand of the loop of the second rope 8 into the         guiding lumen 7, opposite the side of the rod 11 against which         the loop bears, via the corresponding passage opening 15, this         step requiring, if the guiding device is provided with retaining         bosses 16, crushing each strand of the loop at the corresponding         retaining boss 16,     -   inserting the first rope 6 into the guiding groove 5,     -   passing the loop of the second rope 8 around the fixed         attachment point 9,     -   passing the free end of the loop of the second rope 8 around the         fixation tab 11 such that it bears against a second side of the         rod 12 of the fixation tab, opposite the first side thereof,         this step requiring crushing each strand of the loop at the         retaining lugs 18 to allow the insertion of the loop into the         retaining groove 14, and     -   inserting each strand of the loop situated across from the other         guiding lumen 7 into said guiding lumen, via the corresponding         passage opening 15, this step requiring, if the guiding device         is provided with retaining bosses 16, crushing each strand of         the loop at the corresponding retaining boss 16.

It must be noted that the step for inserting the first rope 6 into the guiding groove 5 may be performed after the step for inserting each strand of the loop into the other guiding lumen 7.

FIG. 5 shows a guiding device 2 secured according to the first fixation method described above. According to such a fixation method, the guiding groove 5, and therefore the first rope 6, extends parallel to the axis of the attachment point 9. Furthermore, according to such a fastening method, the guiding device 2 allows the first rope to be freed at any point thereof.

The second fixation method comprises the following steps:

-   -   passing the loop of the second rope 8 around the fixation tab 11         such that it bears against a first side portion of the rod 12 of         the fixation tab, this step requiring crushing the second rope 8         at the corresponding retaining lug 18 to allow the insertion of         the loop into the retaining groove 14,     -   inserting each strand of the loop of the second rope 8 into the         guiding lumen 7, in the corresponding guiding lumen 7 via the         corresponding passage opening 15, this step requiring, if the         guiding device is provided with retaining bosses 16, crushing         each strand of the loop at the corresponding retaining boss 16,     -   passing the loop of the second rope 8 around the fixed         attachment point 9,     -   passing the free end of the loop of the second rope 8 around the         fixation tab 11 such that it bears against a second side portion         of the rod 12 of the fixation tab, opposite the first side         portion thereof, this step requiring crushing each strand of the         loop at the corresponding retaining lug 18 to allow the         insertion of the free end of the loop into the retaining groove         14,     -   inserting each strand of the loop, situated across from a         guiding lumen 7, into the corresponding guiding lumen 7 via the         corresponding passage opening 15, this step requiring, if the         guiding device is provided with retaining bosses 16, crushing         each strand of the loop at the corresponding retaining boss 16,         and     -   inserting the first rope 6 into the guiding groove 5 by one of         the ends of the latter part.

It should be noted that the step for passing the loop of the second rope 8 around the fixed attachment point 9 could be done before the first step for passing the loop of the second rope 8 around the fixation tab 11 or before the first step for inserting each strand of the loop of the second rope 8 into the corresponding guiding lumen 7. In that case, the step for passing the loop of the second rope 8 around the fixed attachment point 9 could comprise arranging the closed loop of the second rope on the fixed attachment point 9 such that first and second end portions of the loop extend on either side of the fixed attachment point.

FIG. 6 shows a guiding device 2 secured according to the second fixation method described above. According to such a fixation method, the guiding groove 5, and therefore the first rope 6, extends perpendicular to the axis of the attachment point 9.

In this way, the guiding device 2 according to the invention makes it possible, irrespective of the orientation of the attachment point used or the mobile part to be handled, to orient the guiding groove 5 in two orthogonal directions depending on the selected fixation method.

The invention is of course not limited solely to the embodiment of this guiding device described above as an example, but on the contrary encompasses all alternative embodiments. 

1. A device for guiding a rope, comprising: an essentially U-shaped guiding groove intended for guiding a first rope, two guiding lumens for guiding the closed loop of a second rope for securing the guiding device on a fixed attachment point or on a mobile part to be handled, the two guiding lumens extending on both sides of the plane defined by the guiding groove, and a fixation tab of the closed loop of the second rope on the guiding device, and first and second passage openings each respectively emerging in one of the guiding lumens, each of the first and second passage openings being arranged to allow the insertion of the second rope into the corresponding guiding lumen.
 2. The rope guiding device according to claim 1, which includes first retaining means arranged to retain the second rope in the guiding lumens.
 3. The rope guiding device according to claim 2, wherein the first retaining means comprise two retaining bosses each respectively formed opposite one of the first and second passage openings, each retaining boss being arranged to retain strands of the second rope in the corresponding guiding lumen.
 4. The rope guiding device according to claim 1, which includes second retaining means arranged to retain the first rope in the guiding groove.
 5. The rope guiding device according to claim 4, wherein the second retaining means advantageously delimit a passage emerging in the guiding groove (5) and having a width smaller than the width of the guiding groove.
 6. The rope guiding device according to claim 1, which includes a central portion and two side portions arranged on either side of the central portion, the central portion and the two side portions delimiting the guiding groove.
 7. The rope guiding device according to claim 6, wherein the second retaining means comprise two retaining returns formed on the central portion and oriented toward one another.
 8. The rope guiding device according to claim 6, wherein the fixation tab comprises a rod whereof one of the ends extends from the outer surface of the central portion and whereof the other end is equipped with a head, the head of the fixation tab delimiting, with the central portion, the side portions and the rod of the fixation tab, a retaining groove designed to retain two opposite end portions of the closed loop of the second rope.
 9. The rope guiding device according to claim 8, which includes third retaining means arranged to retain the end portions of the second rope in the retaining groove.
 10. The rope guiding device according to claim 9, wherein the third retaining means comprise two retaining lugs each respectively formed on one of the side portions.
 11. An assembly including a guiding device according to claim 1, and a closed loop of a rope designed for the fixation of the guiding device on a fixed attachment point or on a mobile part to be handled. 